Celebrating a Highlander Christmas in support of food security at St. Giles Presbyterian Church

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, the Macdonald Highland Dancers, the Governor General’s Foot Guards Quartet and the Ceilidh Band joined forces to bring a taste of Scotland to St. Giles Presbyterian Church in the Glebe on Friday, December 5. It was all in support of the Centretown Community Food Centre, a ministry of the Centretown Churches Social Action Committee. Guests were asked to bring donations of non-perishable food items or monetary contributions to help address the on-going concern of food insecurity in Centretown and in Ottawa’s central core more generally.

The Christmas concert, an annual tradition, was opened by Reverend Paul Wu. He noted that St. Giles has been a regimental Church of the Cameron Highlanders since the 1940s. The current redbrick Norman-Gothic style church at 729 Bank Street was completed in 1929. Reverend Wu framed his opening words within the context of tradition — both that of his local congregation and of salvation history  — and continued by reading a Scripture passage from the Prophet Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The rich sounds and colours of this evening concert did much to dispel the darkness of a cold winter night. Warrant Officer Jason Cooper, CD introduced each ensemble and provided historical background to many of the songs. The opening set by the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa included a handful of songs and marches performed on bagpipe and with drums, including “Dawning of the Day,” “Steam Train to Mallaig,” and “Crags of Tumbledown Mountain.” They were followed by the Governor General’s Foot Guards Quarter, which performed some popular Christmas songs, including “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,” which certainly was accurate on that frigid and snowy Friday night. They also performed a whimsical version of “Let It Snow.” Given the presence of saxophones, the ensemble added a jazzy, bluesy element to the evening.

The Ceilidh Band followed, and it was explained that the term “ceilidh” refers to a traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering or party that includes music, storytelling, and good cheer. The ensemble opened with “I Saw Three Ships,” a traditional English carol from the 1600s. This was followed by Gaelic melodies and “The Lark in the Morning,” which first appeared in the 1920s. The Ceilidh band also incorporated “Good King Wenceslas,” which combines English and Finnish traditions of songwriting. The quick-time “Winter Waltz” sought to capture the light touch of winter flurries.

The programme was rich enough to warrant an intermission. And it’s after this that the Macdonald Highland Dancers filled the church with new energy, dancing to classics like “Christmas in Killarney.” The Cameron Highlanders closed the musical circle by performing music from both the sacred and secular traditions, including “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Jingle Bells” and “Lights Out.” The latter is a mainstay of Scottish regimental music. Near the end of the concert, Dennis Hansen, Manager of the Centretown Community Food Centre spoke of the organization’s work in addressing food insecurity in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Following the concert, all were invited to join the performers in the St. Giles Church Hall for an array of sweet and savoury refreshments, alongside tea and coffee, as well as a time of holiday fellowship.

Christopher Adam